CHICAGO — Four men were shot and one was killed overnight when a verbal altercation escalated into a shooting outside Lawrence’s Fish & Shrimp on the city’s South Side, according to a preliminary investigation by Chicago police.
Police say a group of men were standing outside the Lawrence’s location in the 2100 block of South Canal Street, on the Chicago River in Armour Square, around 3 a.m. Sunday — the restaurant is open 24/7 — when they began arguing with another group of men.
The altercation turned physical, police say, then shots were fired.
A 39-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police, and a 27-year-old man took himself to an area hospital in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds to the body. Authorities have not released the identity of the man pronounced dead.
Additionally, police say, a 34-year-old man was taken to an area hospital in fair condition with gunshot wounds to the leg, and a 21-year-old man took himself to an area hospital with a gunshot wound to the left calf and is listed in good condition.
A heavy police presence remained at Lawrence’s early Sunday morning, crime-scene tape surrounding the restaurant and the entire parking lot. Evidence techs found shell casings scattered across the parking lot, and the crime scene had expanded to include part of the property next door.
A man who identified himself as a friend of the man who was killed told WGN he was at the restaurant getting something to eat with his teenage children when they witnessed the entire incident.
Police have not said if they have anyone in custody, saying only that Area One detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
